Internet Explorer 'clamping' internet speed?

[CoolBee]

I don't know if this is possible, but I have been doing these tests repeatedly for the past few days in connection with a job of work where I MUST be able to achieve 400kbps on a speed test and it MUST be using IE8


Using bandwidthplace.com

SRIron browser: download 438kbps upload 303kbps
IE8 d/l 64kbps u/l 272kbps
SRIron straight after d/l 526 kbps u/l 291kbps

Using testmyspeed.com SRIron browser: d/l 450 u/l 260
IE8 - won't even finish loading the test!

I'm watching the graph that I can view of the connection on my dongle modem (which is a 3.6MBps download speed officially (haha)) and I can see, it's exactly as if my IE8 is clamping the speed at around 70kbps and the test facility for the job is clamping at around 30kbps.

I have double checked that I don't have any proxy settings inadvertently left in IE8 from the revolution - I don't use IE normally so it might have happened - anyway, it isn't.

Can IE8 be clamping my speed somehow? Is there something I can check?

I ALSO tried these tests using an ADSL 2MB connection down my local internet cafe - and connecting using an ethernet cable, and the speed was THE SAME on IE8.

I really need to pass this speed test somehow but I never will if there's a clamp in place!


OK, I changed the name to 'browsers' because I just tried it with Firefox 3.6 and exactly the same thing is happening! I know it can go faster because when I opened this forum up, the download 'rode on top' taking the speed up to 100kbps.

What is going on?

[chadcharlie]

Check for toolbars and apps running in both IE and Firefox and uninstall them. Those are notorious for dragging speed down. I only use IE for my corporate email and disable all the toolbars for the same reason.